A white-presenting woman from New Zealand claimed that she was barred from exhibiting her painting at an exhibition presenting Māori artists, because she isn’t part of the indigenous community. A video showing her painting – a portrait of a Māori woman – faced significant backlash, with many people denouncing her apparent entitlement.
Earlier this month, a woman who goes by Ivana Gardner took to her TikTok page to defend her mom, painter Hazel Hunt, whom she claimed had been rejected by an art gallery, “because she’s not Māori.”
Although the original video has since been deleted, TikToker Lydia Tuaiti stitched Ivana’s clip, which showcased Hazel standing in front of her portrait of a Māori woman.
